The Best running locomotives

[Todd McWilliam]

My favorite is Atlas, second is Kato, which do you all think are the best runners and last the longest?

[Anonymous]

i like Kato's but Atlas and Genesis are nice

[Anonymous]

Is your questionnaire limited to diesel?
If not what about the Trix Big Boy & the up-graded Rivarossi Allegheny ?

[Anonymous]

I chose Atlas because of my experience with them. I have had an old RS11 of theirs for almost 20 years, and I can garranty that it will still purr like a kitten if I get it out of it's box and onto the tracks. I have the re-released version of the RS11 as well and it's a beauty! It runs very well and has performed flawlessly with the older RS11.

[BRAKIE]

My first choice is Atlas locomotives..[:D] I feel that Atlas sets the standards for quality locomotives..

[Anonymous]

Mr. Witty, the old Atlas RS-11 you have actually has a Kato drive in it, so I guess you think highly of Kato as well.[:D]

I voted Kato first followed closely behind by Atlas. These two engines have held up the best over the long run.

[simon1966]

I have a sneaky feeling that the modern locomotives loaded with electronics will not last as long as their older brethren. I have an old Hobby Town E7 that is as solid as a rock, could pull the bumper of a 50's Chevy and will probably never go wrong because there is nothing to break!

I suspect that "runs the best" and "lasts the longest" may not be applicable to the same locomotive!

[Anonymous]

Question,How do HO scale steam locomotives perform over diesel locomotives,is their any difference....on grades or the flat?
BNSFrailfan.

[orsonroy]

Runs the best: Atlas

Lasts the longest: Mantua

[Anonymous]

Atlas Master Series hands down

[Anonymous]

Atlas and kato are tied in my book. I really like the Atlas P&W U23B engin. Great detail. Had to give atlas my vote.

[cbq9911a]

Atheard "Blue Box". As runners, they're almost as good as an Atlas or Kato. But they're much more robust. and you get a bigger bang for your buck.

[RMax1]

I have an old Mantua tank engine someone gave me that runs great! It's really old. I like the Proto 2000 units for new power. Work well and quiet.

RMax

[Anonymous]

Of those listed, Atlas is the best, with Kato a close second place, but the best running, best looking HO Scale locomotives are not on the list, they are the OMI brass diesels, Of those that I own, They are virtually flawless in running performance, slow, smooth, and extremely powerful, and they can really move if so desired, These are the best available locomotives of all, IMO.


Mac

[Anonymous]

I have 2 Kato units and 2 Atlas units w/ Kato drives. They are the best loco's in my fleet

[Don Gibson]

STEWART getting 4% is ludicrous.

They started out using KATO drives - as did ATLAS.
They 'll run with the best KATO and ATLAS units.
I take it not many 'Forum' members have them. Too bad.

[Don Gibson]

ATHEARN B/B is equally ludicrous.

ATLAS, KATO, STEWART and even ROCO take off and start running while those B/B's sit there - absorbing voltage to overcome friction which takes nearly 6 volts. PROTO 2000 with the (Chinese made) mechanism starts moving at 6 volts too, but only due to the constant voltage directional lighting board that ATHEARN does not have.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Kato hands down, new Atlas a close second.

[Anonymous]

Personaly I love Spectrum and Proto 2000! But I've had some engines that have big problems. Personaly the most reliable, most consistly great running models come from Mantua and Rivarossi.

[AggroJones]

I'll have to agree with the orsonroy. Mantua last the longest. Atlas has the smoothest diesels.
P2K Heritage has the smoothest steam.

[Anonymous]

I voted for Atlas, although so far I have only bought BLI steam and Genesis diesels. If Kato would offer more transition era locomotives, they would also come in on my "best" list.

I like BLI locomotives, but so far they have not proven that they last long, I haven't heard anything about how smooth they run, my 2-8-2 runs fairly smooth, though.

However, if any of my locomotives did ever fail, they'd get either a new Kato or NWSL drive.

[Anonymous]

I own Kato and P2K units and I'd say they're about equal. I don't have any Atlas units myself but I've seen them run and they look pretty impressive.

[CP5415]

I've seen Kato's. Atlas's run. I won't deny that they they are an extremely nice locomotives
I've started to buy Proto locomotives & I eagerly await my D&H PA's.
But for the money, I'd stick with Athearn BlueBox.
Yes, they're not quiet & not detailed, but I like them & that's what's important to me & that's all that matters. {;)]

Gordon

[Junctionfan]

I like Katos and Genesis locos because they pull heavy trains but are fast about doing it. P2K are not fast enough for intermodal trains but make excellent coal train power.

[Anonymous]

Overland Models Diesels (OMI), are the best running locomotives that I own, and I have many Kato, Atlas, Genesis and P2K locomotives, but the OMI"s are the best of the lot.


Mac

[Don Gibson]

I think the layout running at Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry will settle all that.

Anything with moving parts wears out, and requires Service: Airplanes, Cars, Bicycles, Garage Door opener's, and my knee joints. That includes motor brushes and trucks on HO models. Surprise?

1800 actual MSI miles = 156,600 HO miles. My last car -with service- went 200,000 miles. How many of us are there willing to pay for toys that will?

[TheFlyingScotsman]

I'd still have to say Kato. For steam models I would have to think of it on a model by model basis, but no real duds - Rivarossi the last ones, Challenger, Key, BLI, they all run well if looked after.

[wjstix]

It's a fun topic to discuss every 18 years or so! 

I think - particularly since the time of the original post - things have overall gotten a lot better. For those of us who have been in the hobby a long time, it's impressive how much better today's Atlas, Kato, BLI, Athearn Genesis, Bowser, Walthers Proto, etc. run compared to engines of a generation or two back. 

[IRONROOSTER]

My Fleischmann from the 1950's still runs.

Paul

[SeeYou190]

I don't really know how to say which one runs best, but my best runners are:

Atlas S series switcher

Walthers FM switcher

Bachmann EM-1 2-8-8-4

Kato NW-2

And of course... all my Kato/Stewart F3s and F7s

-Kevin